Wednesday, July 6, 2011

WWII Motorbike Daredevils



British Pathé has an amazing collection of film footage from the 1890s onward online and available to view free of charge. There is not much present from before the turn of the century, which is both logical and sad, yet there is a real treasure trove of newsreel footage that brings the period to life in a way that printed sources can't quite achieve. The clip above from 1944 shows girls training for the National Fire Service as despatch riders. Of course, they're not usurping male roles because it's war time, and they're still feminine because they don't neglect the styling of their hair.